Legalism

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

27 May 2018

Updated: April 8, 2019

By:

Boyce Belt

Legalism

Opening:

• Prayer

Text:

Mark 2:18 - 3:6 (KJV) And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? 19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. 21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. 22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. 23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

Introduction:

Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.  True holiness is an important part of the Christian life.  In this verse the writer of the book of Hebrews informs us that without it one will not see God.  Too often line between true holiness and legalism has been blurred.  This is seen often among our Holiness, Pentecostal churches.  Too often we are afraid that people will not be holy if we do not preach it in a legalistic way.  As a result many have been ostracized when preaching against legalism by accusing them of liberalism.

We must understand what is meant by legalism.  It is a religion of works.  A belief that that our deeds will make the difference in our eternal destination.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Paul deals with the issue of law and liberty in his epistle to the Galatians.  He instructs them that even though we have liberty in Christ this does not give us license to live as we please.  Galatians 5:13 (KJV) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  We can see from this verse that not only do we live a life of restraint for the pleasure of God but also that we might be able to serve one another.

Though they will tell you that salvation is by faith alone many of our preachers, especially in our camp meetings and youth camps, have veered into legalism by making such foolish statements as, “If you … (fill in the blank) you will go to hell!”  I have, and so have you, heard many things preached against the were ridiculous.  I remember one sermon against ping pong.

In two weeks we will have close to 400 teenagers on the campground.  The last several years the total registration has been between 500 and 600.  When you remove from this number adults and children not yet youth camp age this leaves between 300 to 400 in their teen years.  It is important to get this right for their sake.  Too many time preachers have dealt with outward standards to such and extent that you wonder if they realize what many of the youth are dealing with.

Sometime back on Dr. James Dobsons broadcast a statistic was quoted indicating approximately 1 in 3 middle school age children are being sexually abused.  Often being trafficked for sex.  Even if this number were overstated we must realize that when we have opportunity to minister to that many young people there will be a large number in the audience who have been used and abused.

If this were not bad enough, cutting has become a rampage among the youth of today.  Choking themselves until they pass out to get a high as well as drugs and alcohol.  Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are rampant among our young ladies.  We are naive if we think this is only outside in the world and that some of our youth in the church are not facing these same temptations.  Christian schools and home schooling a great but they are not enough to protect our youth.  When we tell a young lady dealing with these issues she is going to hell for using eye shadow we are intensifying the problem.

I am not using this to justify the use of make-up or the lowering of our standards.  I am not even suggesting that there is not a time and a place for the teaching and preaching of Biblical standards but often it is easier to get up and read off the list of rules and ignore the real issues before us.

This is what Jesus was fighting in our text.  The religious leaders turned against him because of this and too many in our holiness churches have turned on men who have tried to bring this message by labeling them as liberal.

1. The Representation (examples) of Legalism — Often like the Pharisees we know the additional rules better than we know the word.  We can quote the cliches.  There are principles clearly laid out in the Word of God that we should follow.  Often we have applied these to specific situations and then preached the specific rather than the principle.  Because far too many congregants have failed to read and study the Scripture for themselves we find that they believe the specific application to be the Biblical standard and have missed the principle altogether.  I’m reminded of the time years ago an individual stood to testify about how he argued with a co-worker about the evils of smoking and told him that the Bible says, “Thou shalt not smoke.”  Just in case you don’t know, that’s not in there.  Opposition to smoking is based on scriptural principle but it is not spelled out in Scripture.

1. Fasting —Isaiah 58:1-7 (KJV) 1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.  2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.  3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?  Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.  4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.  5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?  6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?  7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?  when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
2. Feasting
3. Freeing

2. The Results of Legalism

1. Self-Righteousness
2. Inconsistency

1. Woman Caught in Adultery

3. Pride

3. The Remedy for Legalism

1. Repentance
2. Reserve (humility)
3. Relation

Conclusion:

Next Week: Binding The Strong Man—Mark 3:7-35

Prayer